Jan-Feb-2015-Binnacle - United States Power Squadrons

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2015 Vol. LVIV, No. 1
Published Bi-Monthly beginning January
Website: usps.org/savannahriver
The Change of Watch has been
rescheduled and will be held on
January 27, 2015 at the Pinnacle
Club in Augusta
Members & Guest Meeting Information
Date:
Tuesday, 27 January 2015
Date:
Tuesday, 17 February 2015
Time:
1830-2030
Time:
1830-2030
Where:
The Pinnacle Club, Augusta
Where:
Red Pepper, Aiken
Program: Change of Watch
Program: On the Water Training
50 Years of Safe Boating 1956—2006
The Piedmont Binnacle
January-February 2015
79
Savannah River Sail & Power Squadron
2
Serving Central Savannah River Area
The Piedmont Binnacle
50 Years of Safe Boating 1956—2006
January-February 2015
2014 Bridge
Commander
Paulette Harris-Holmes, SN
3033 Park Avenue
Augusta, GA 30909
706-737-8113
pha[email protected]
Assistant Commander
P/C DeMetrice Allen, AP
1816 Empress Court
Augusta, GA 30906
706-796-8532
[email protected]
Educational Officer
Bernard H. Pohlman , SN
132 Avondale Dr.
Augusta 30907
707-294-9929
[email protected]
Message from the Commander
Administrative Officer
P/C DeMetrice Allen, AP
It’s strange how life’s twists and turns can affect you. In the last issue, I
signed off as Commander and gave thanks for all those who made
contributions this past year. The plan was for me to attain the coveted title
of PAST Commander at the November 21st Change of Watch. It didn’t
happen.
Secretary
Lt/C Nettie Dumais, AP
For those of you who haven’t heard, our incoming Commander, Paulette
Harris-Holmes, along with her husband Audie Holmes, was involved in a
serious automobile accident and was in the hospital in intensive care on
November 21. Both were seriously injured and unfortunately, Audie didn’t
make it. Needless to say, we postponed the Change of Watch. It has been
rescheduled and will be held on January 27, 2015 at the Pinnacle Club in
Augusta. Paulette is still planning to be sworn in as our Commander for
2015. Let’s all try to give her some support.
1816 Empress Court
Augusta, GA 30906
706-796-8532
[email protected]
2248 Woodbluff Way
Augusta, GA30909
706-799-2043
[email protected]
Treasurer
Lt/C Nettie Dumais, AP
2248 Woodbluff Way
Augusta, GA30909
706-799-2043
[email protected]
Editor
Sean Rachal
3104 Santee Avenue
Aiken, SC 29801
706-951-5678
[email protected]
Articles, opinions, and advertisements contained herein do not necessarily reflect USPS policy or
endorsement unless so designated.
EDITORIAL DEADLINE
Deadline for articles, photos, and reports for the
January-February 2015 edition of T he Piedmont
Binnacle: Saturday, 13 December 2014.
We will miss Audie. He was there with Paulette at every Bridge meeting
and every Dinner meeting. He was always available to give us advice.
Most of it was welcomed. We wish him fair winds.
The Bridge had a planning meeting on December 9 and have outlined our
schedule for 2015. It is available on our website:
www.usps.org/localusps/savannahriver/
Since the last issue, we held the annual Harvest Ball on November 1 and
our annual Christmas Party on December 2 at the Pinnacle Club.
In January, our only meeting will be the Change of Watch and on February
19, 2015 at the Red Pepper in Aiken.
Also, in January, we are offering the ABC Class. The plan is for three
nights, January 13, 20, 26.
In closing, I urge everyone to come out next year and support incoming
Commander Paulette Harris-Holmes, SN.
Cdr Butch Rachal, SN
If any member has photographs or SRS&PS stories he or
she would like to submit, please send them in DIGITAL
FORMAT to the editor for consideration.
Savannah River Sail & Power Squadron
Savannah River S&PS Commander
803-443-1983
[email protected]
3
Serving Central Savannah River Area
The Piedmont Binnacle
50 Years of Safe Boating 1956—2006
January-February 2015
Assistant Commander
The New Year begins on a sad note as we continue to mourn the passing of our dear friend, P/C Audie
Holmes, SN. He will be greatly missed in many ways, including his dedication to USPS and his wonderful
sense of humor.
I would like to commend our Commander, Butch Rachal and bridge members, for continuing to offer the
services of the Savannah River Sail and Power Squadron to the community through cooperative charting,
vessel safety checks and safe boating activities.
I look forward to working with our soon-to-be Commander, Paulette Harris Holmes, bridge officers, and
squadron members to help realize the United States Power Squadron’s mission: “To promote recreational
boating safety through education and civic activities while providing fellowship for our members.”
Remember, “Boating is fun… we’ll show you how”.
P/C DeMetrice Allen, AP
Savannah River Sail & Power Squadron
4
Serving Central Savannah River Area
The Piedmont Binnacle
50 Years of Safe Boating 1956—2006
January-February 2015
Educational Officer
From the Education Department:
Since I'm still the SEO, here's my report. Please review courses you have taken with SRSPS and let us know
what you would like to take in 2015. We'll plan the Education schedule around your desires!
Also, many thanks for all of you for your visits, cards, etc. since the accident Audie and I had on Nov.
6th. Audie loved SRSPS and all of its members. I know he really hoped we could make SRSPS grow in
2015. Let's help make that dream a reality. Please invite friends to all of our activities in 2015 and do come,
too!
Sincerely,
P/C Paulette Harris-Holmes, SN
Savannah River Sail & Power Squadron
5
Serving Central Savannah River Area
The Piedmont Binnacle
50 Years of Safe Boating 1956—2006
January-February 2015
Harvest Ball Photos
Note from the Editor
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hopefully most of you got through them without overdoing it too much. I hope we can have a
prosperous year and grow this squadron. I am publishing articles from the National Marketing/PR committee. This issue
features “Engine Maintenance”. Next issue: “Rewarded or Punished”. Don’t forget to include the website address,
usps.org/localusps/savannahriver/ on your flyers and brochures. It can be a powerful recruiting tool. As always, I am on
the lookout for any and all interesting and relevant articles from our members.
As it happens, I ran out of boating safety articles to adapt from past issues. I would be interested in obtaining more. I
have the issues from 1995. Please feel free to send me any other ideas that you have.
Savannah River Sail & Power Squadron
6
Serving Central Savannah River Area
The Piedmont Binnacle
50 Years of Safe Boating 1956—2006
January-February 2015
Remembering Audie Holmes
Audie Holmes, passed away on Thursday, November 20, 2014 at the Georgia Regent's Health Shock Trauma
Center following a tragic motor vehicle accident in Augusta, on November 6, 2014. A Celebration of Life
was held on Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at 2:00 pm at the Gilbert-Lambuth Memorial Chapel at Paine
College with Rev. Dr. Luther B. Felder II officiating. Audie was born on April 15, 1932 in Merrick on Long
Island, New York. Audie was a graduate of Augusta College, Augusta State University, Georgia Southern
University and other institutions of higher learning. He held the following degrees: B.S., M.Ed, Ed.S, and
Ed.D. He was an Assistant Professor of History at Paine College from 2000 to 2014. He taught World,
American, and Military History, as well as World Regional Geography courses. He established and directed
the annual Cedar Grove /Paine College historical re-enactment tours for the last six years. He served as advisor to the Paine College History Club. Audie served in the US Army Special Forces - Airborne. He served
one tour in Korea and three tours in Vietnam. During his military career he lived in 34 countries on six continents. After retirement from the military, he served as a director of the language lab at Fort Gordon; he was
fluent in five languages. Audie was very active in the Power Squadrons, serving as Commander for the Savannah River Sail and Power Squadron and as Charter Commander at Golden Isles Sail and Power Squadron.
At Audie’s request his ashes be scattered from his yacht in the blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean. To view the
full obituary and sign the guestbook please visit www.plattsfuneralhome.com Platt s Funeral Home, 721
Crawford Avenue. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/augustachronicle/obituary.aspx?
pid=173323471#sthash.8Vb3AzEx.dpuf
The Golden Isles Sail and Power Squadron headed by its P/C Charles Wilsdorf are planning a ceremony when
Aud’s ashes will be taken to sea following Aud’s wishes. This event will take place on Sunday, March 1,
2015 at 1:00 p.m. A large boat holding about 20 individuals and Aud’s own cruiser which can hold another
10 will go out. Others may go as well. All members of SRSPS are invited to participate.
Savannah River Sail & Power Squadron
7
Serving Central Savannah River Area
The Piedmont Binnacle
Savannah River Sail & Power Squadron
50 Years of Safe Boating 1956—2006
8
January-February 2015
Serving Central Savannah River Area
The Piedmont Binnacle
50 Years of Safe Boating 1956—2006
January-February 2015
Christmas Party Photos
Savannah River Sail & Power Squadron
9
Serving Central Savannah River Area
50 Years of Safe Boating 1956—2006
The Piedmont Binnacle
January-February 2015
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Savannah River Sail & Power Squadron
10
Serving Central Savannah River Area
The Piedmont Binnacle
50 Years of Safe Boating 1956—2006
January-February 2015
Published by the Marketing/ PR Committee
United States Power Squadrons®
Contact: Greg Scotten [email protected]
WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY ENGINE AND HOW MUCH TO FIX IT?
In the old days, engines were not difficult to maintain or repair; you simply mixed the oil and gas in the proper
proportions, maintained the pull cord and its spring in good condition, and you were all set. In that outboard,
you just sat in the back and steered by manually turning the motor around. Today’s power plants are a different
story. Now we have inboard as well as outboard, diesel, gas, and four stroke engines. Add fuel injection and
electronic control modules; it’s not surprising that many boaters are intimidated by their vessels’ power systems. While boats have many things that can go wrong, nothing sounds more frightful and expensive than to
be told “Sorry Sir, the problem is in your engine.”
Hold on folks, all is not lost! The United States Power Squadrons® has seminars and its Engine Maintenance
Course. Both are available to the general public. The class deals with gas, diesel, inboard, and outboard. It also
covers the basic mechanical systems such as drive systems, propellers, steering systems, and engine controls. It
reminds you about the basic facts of just how these things work.
These programs include diagnosis and repairs that “do-it-yourselfers” can still perform. With this information
captains can understand the potential problem and whether it is beyond their capability (or desire) to fix. It also
puts them in a favorable position when explaining the problem to a professional mechanic and in a savvy position to understand whether the correct and necessary repairs (only) are being recommended.
Doing it yourself, can save lost time from your water enjoyment while saving you money. But if you do not
know what you are doing, it can have drastic results. We recently read of two cases of boat “home repairs” that
resulted in fires. Both situations brought the boat owners to the hospital with critical burns.
An educated boater is a wise boater. If you are going to deal with mechanical fuel driven systems, do it carefully. With the knowledge gleaned from the Power Squadrons, you will learn how to diagnose and to repair
your engine, and to know your limitations.
So take it from the “smartest man on the water” and “repair safely, my friend.” To do so, contact your local
Power Squadron or go to the national website at www.usps.org.
As the Power Squadron members always remind us: “Boating is fun…we’ll show you how!”
******
Savannah River Sail & Power Squadron
11
Lt. Bill Hempel
Senior Feature Writer
Marketing/Public Relations Committee
United States Power Squadrons®
Serving Central Savannah River Area
SAVANNAH RIVER SAIL & POWER SQUADRON
SEAN RACHAL, EDITOR
3104 SANTEE AVENUE
AIKEN, SC 29801
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Check us out on the web:
usps.org/localusps/savannahriver
COMING EVENTS ~ DON’T MISS ’EM
WHEN
WHAT
WHERE
Change of Watch
The Pinnacle Club, Augusta
On the Water Training
Red Pepper, Aiken
January 2015
TUE 27 1830-2030
February 2014
TUE 17 1830-2030
Hypothermia Quiz Answer: A & E
Inside This Issue
Page 3 — Commander Butch Rachal’s Message
Page 4 — Assistant Commander Report
Page 5 — SEO Report
Page 6 — Note from the Editor
Page 7 — Harvest Ball
Page 8 — Boating Safety — Hypothermia
Page 11 — “Engine Maintenance”